Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hawaii State Quarter Release November 3

The 2008 Hawaii State Quarter will be released into circulation on Monday, November 3, 2008. This will mark the final coin of the 50 State Quarters Program.

The reverse design of the Hawaii Quarter features a statue of King Kamehameha I. He was responsible for unifying the governance of the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1800's. The ruler is depicted with his right hand outstretched towards the eight main Hawaiian Islands. An inscription is included which translates to "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959.

The US Mint will offer Hawaii Quarters through the Bags and Rolls Program. Two-Roll Sets of Hawaii Quarters from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints will be available priced at $32.95. 100-Coin and 1,000 Coin Bags will be available priced at $32.95 and $309.95 respectively. These will both go on sale November 3, 2008 at 12:00 Noon ET.

Since the 50 State Quarter Program began in 1999, the US Mint has produced more than 33 billion State Quarters. The State with the highest production was the 2001 Virginia Quarter with almost 1.6 billion produced. According to the US Mint approximately 147 million Americans collect State Quarters. The US government has made an estimated $4.6 billion from collectors taking the coins out of circulation. (This figure is from a Congressional Budget Office Report released in 2005 so the current amount may be even greater.)

Next year a separate program will begin known as The District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarter Program. This will honor other jurisdictions which are not states. This includes Washington DC, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.